Directional luminaire



Aug. 1, 1961 J. ENDELSON 2,994,148

DIRECTIONAL LUMINAIRE Filed Jan. 21, 1959 s Sheets-Sheet 1 2 INVENTOR 2 Zac ENDEL SON BY W 7 7w ATTORNEYS Aug. 1, 1961 J. ENDELSON DIRECTIONAL LUMINAIRE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 21, 1959 INVENTOR J40? f/vrsasolv BY W 741 7 ATTORNEYS g- 1, 1961 J. ENDELSON 2,994,148

DIRECTIONAL LUMINAIRE Filed Jan. 21, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ,/06/ (IQCA/ NDELSO/V ATTO R N EYS 2,994,148 DCTIONAL LA Jack Endeison, Atlantic Beach, N.Y., assignor to McPhilben Manufacturing Co., Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 788,144 9 Claims. (Cl. 40130) This invention relates in general to luminaires and in particular to a new and useful directional type of luminaire including a lamp housing having means for holding a light transmissive sign plate in depending relationship therefrom and including means for mounting a light source in the housing and for directing the light downwardly through the light transmissive sign plate.

The present invention is an improvement over luminaires of this type particularly in the construction of lamp housing which includes a central elongated rectangular slot through which a cooperating pair of translucent plates comprising a sign are inserted. The translucent sign plates are provided with laterally extending lugs which are received in channels of the housing to support the plates in a position below the housing. The construction includes a simple securing clip member located in a concealed position within the housing to hold the sign plates against movement once they are positioned in relation to the housing. The housing further includes the cover plate which is removably hinged to one end of the housing and which carries a socket for either a fluorescent or an incandescent lamp. The cover and housing are arranged to direct light from the lamp downwardly through the light transmissive sign plate members to illuminate the sign below the housing. The housing construction permits assembly of the sign to its electrical power source either by overhead, side, or end mounting.

A feature of the invention is the construction of the cover which is arranged to carry all of the electrical elements as well as the sockets for the lamps. The cover is provided with laterally extending hinge axles which fit into interior slideways at each side of one end of the housing. The axles may be moved along the slideways into a position for hinged movement in relation to the housing. Thus in the case of an overhead mounted luminaire the housing may be opened by merely loosening a single screw or bolt holding the cover in place to the housing at the end opposite the hinge connection. The housing may be swung down for access to the interior, as for sign changing or lamp adjusting or replacement purposes.

In the case of side or end mounting of the luminaire, the cover may be swung open on its hinged connection for access to the interior of the housing, or may be entirely removed from the housing by moving the lateral supporting axles in the slideways in the housing to disassociate the cover therefrom.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide an improved directional luminaire.

A further object of the invention is to provide a directional luminaire including an elongated substantially trough-shaped housing having a substantially rectangular slot for receiving transparent lettered panels and including simple means for positioning the panels against movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a luminaire including a trough-shaped housing and a cover member hingedly connected to said housing at one end thereof wherein the cover carries and supports the electrical connections for a lamp for luminating a transparent sign panel which is arranged to depend from the bottom end of the housing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a direc- Patented Aug. 1, 196 1 tional luminaire which is simple in design, rugged in construction, and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illusrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a directional luminaire having a ceiling mounting bracket and constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the directional luminaire indicated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse section of the luminaire indicated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged detail taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 55 of FIG. 3, with portions of the mounting canopy and wall socket indicated in section to indicate the manner of securing the luminaire to the ceiling;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the luminaire indicated in FIG. 1 with the housing shown lowered on its hinged connection with the cover;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary transverse section of another embodiment of luminaire adapted for side-mounting on a wall; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary transverse section of still another embodiment of the invention indicating end-mounting of the luminaire on a wall.

Referring to the drawings in particular the invention as embodied therein includes a directional luminaire generally designated 10 which in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 16 is adapted for mounting on a ceiling or similar overhead member 12.

The luminaire 10 includes a trough-shaped housing generally designated 14 having an elongated rectangular slot 16 which extends from one end wall 18 to an opposite end wall 20.

In accordance with the invention a pair of transparent lettered panels 22 and 24 with an opaque divider 26 therebetween are held tightly together by a ing member or through bolt .28 which extends through the assembly at spaced locations from each end. The bolt 28 forms laterally extending portions on each side of the panels 22 and 24. The lettered panels 22 and 24 and the divider 26 are held closely together by the through bolt 28 by means of speed nuts 30 which are threaded onto the through bolt 28 up against the sides of the panels 22 and 24. (See FIG. 4.) The lettered panels 22 and 24 are advantageously made of either glass or a plastic material such as acrylic plastic, Lucite or similar non-breakable material and preferably of a material which will confine light directed onto the panels from the top edges along the complete length and width of the panels for illumination of the lettering thereon.

The interior of the housing 14- is provided with upstanding members 32 and 34 which extend along the entire length of the slot 16. The members 32 and 34 are provided with channel recesses 36 and 38 at spaced locations from each end (see FIG. 3) to receive the laterally extending ends of the through bolts 28.

In accordance with the invention the lettered panel assembly including the opaque divider 26 is lowered through the opening 16 and supported from the housing 14 by the bolts 28 which rest on the channel members 36 and 38. When the lettered panels 22 and 24 are positioned as indicated in the drawings, a substantially S-shaped clip member generally designated 40 is positioned so that the intermediate portion extends over the tops of the lettered panels 22 and 24 and the curved end pontions are bolted to upstanding bosses 42 and 44, lorated on each side thereof at spaced locations. The bolts 46 may be tightened on the bosses 42 and 44 so that the central portion of the S-shaped clip 40 bears down on the top surfaces of the lettered panels 22 and 24 and holds the complete assembly against movement. If desired, the panels 22, 24 and divider 26 may be held together and inserted upwardly through the slot 16 and the bolts 28 applied after the tops thereof are within the housing.

In accordance with the invention the luminaire includes a cover member generally designated 48 which is provided with a pair of laterally extending pintles of axle members 50 and 52 which fit into slideways 54 which are formed by projections on the interior sides of the housing 14. The axle members 50 and 52 are aligned with the slideways 54 and move downwardly thetrealong into a position for hinged rotation beneath a bearing portion 56 formed in the housing. The opposite end of the cover member 48 is provided with a threaded opening 58 to receive a bolt 60 which extends through a hole in the wall 20 of the housing to retain the cover in a closed position. The arrangement permits easy access to the interior of the housing by merely removing the single bolt 60 and swinging either the cover 48 upwardly or the housing 14- downwardly on the hinged bearing portions 56 (see FIG. 6).

The cover 48 is provided with a wiring channel member 62 which, in the present instance, supports two widely spaced depending sockets 64 and 66 for a fluorescent lamp 68. The channel member 62 is equally adaptable to supporting depending sockets at each end for incandescent lamps if desired.

Electrical cords 69 and 70 extend from the socket members 64 and 66 through a central nipple 72 positioned in an opening in the cover 48. A canopy member 74 is provided with a central opening which fits over the nipple 72 and is held thereon as by nuts 76 and 78 threaded onto each end of the nipple. The canopy member 74 is fastened to a strap of an outlet box 84 by small bolts 82. (See FIG. 5.) The wires 68 and 70 pass through the nipple 72 and into the outlet box where they are connected electrically.

For the ceiling mounted directional luminaire just de scribed it is possible to open the cover member by removing the bolt 60 and allowing the housing 14 with the lettered panels 22 and 24 attached thereto, to swing downwardly as indicated in FIG. 6. In this position it is possible to dissociate the housing 14 from the cover by moving the axles 5i and 52 outwardly along the slideways 54. It is also possible to make whatever adjustments or replacements required with the housing in a swinging position as indicated in FIG. 6. The lettered panels 22 and 24 are easily removed by unscrewing the bolts 46 which hold the S-shaped clip 40 and by lifting the panels upwardly through the top of the housing. The arrangement is such that many types of signs may be used with the single housing construction and replacements of the lettered panels is easy.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 the housing 14 is provided with an opening along a side which may be threaded to receive a similarly threaded nipple 83 for the passage of the electrical cords 84 and 86 therethrough. The opening may be unthreaded to receive a nipple which is held in place by nuts on each side, if desired. A canopy member 88 is secured to the nipple 88 as by nuts 90 and 92 as in the previous embodiment and it in turn is secured to an outlet box 94 mounted in a side wall 96.

v In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8 the end wall 18 is provided with an opening to receive a flanged nipple 98 which is threaded into an opening therein and into the canopy member 100 to hold the two parts to- 4 gether. The canopy member is connected to an outlet box 104 arranged in a side Wall 106.

Thus the invention provides a directional luminaire which is inexpensive to manufacture and which may be easily opened for inspection and change of the component parts. The lettered panels comprising the sign portion are arranged directly beneath the lamp 68 and the light is guided along the panels to illuminate the lettering of the sign. The lettered panels may be easily removed from the housing by opening the cover 48 by the removal of one screw 66. The pa nels are removed by simply removing the S-shaped clips 40 which hold them downwardly in a position depending from the bottom of the housing.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the ap plication of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. A directional luminaire comprising a housing, means for supporting a transparent panel from the interior of said housing, said housing having interior walls defining a trackway adjacent the upper edge of said housing including inwardly extending walls adjacent a top corner of said housing defining an upwardly extending recess, said walls defining an access to said trackway at the top of said housing, a cover member having laterally extending supporting axles adapted to be inserted in said access and moved along said trackway for insertion and removal of said cover from said housing, said axles being positionable in said recess to permit said housing to be hingedly supported from said cover adjacent one end thereof.

2. A directional luminaire according to claim 1 including illuminating means in said housing arranged to direct light onto said panel.

3. A directional luminaire according to claim 2 including a canopy plate secured to said cover for attaching said luminaire to a ceiling.

4. A luminaire according to claim 2 including a canopy plate secured to an end wall of said housing for attaching said luminaire to a vertical wall.

5. A luminaire according to claim 2 including a canopy plate secured to a side wall of said housing for attaching said luminaire to a vertical wall.

6. A directional luminaire comprising a housing having an elongated slot extending longitudinally along the length thereof, a translucent lettered panel positioned in said slot with a major portion extending through said slot, said panel including laterally extending portions projecting beyond said slot and supported on said housing, said housing including walls defining trackways along each edge thereof, and an upwardly extending recess adjacent each corner and a cover member hingedly connected to said housing including laterally extending supporting axles for said housing which extend into said housing trackways and are movable along said trackways into said recess adjacent an edge of said housing for pivotal movement of said housing in respect to said cover at such location, said axles being removable from said housing by sliding along said trackways for disassociation from said housing.

7. A directional luminaire according to claim 6 including light means in said housing for illuminating said panel.

8. A luminaire including a cover member having means thereon for connecting said member to a ceiling, wall and the like, a supporting axle extending laterally from each side of said cover member socket means on said cover for connecting a lamp therein, a substantially trough-shaped housing enclosing said socket means and supported at one end on said axles, said housing including recessed interior walls defining trackways on each side thereof and including a top access to receive said axles, the housing interior walls above said trackways means, and a sign panel extending through said slot and anchored to said housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 707,205 Butt Aug. 19, 1902 2,627,684 Johnson Feb. 10, 1950 2,701,840 Carlson Feb. 8, 1955 2,842,881 Vidach July 15, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 643,105 Great Britain Sept. 15, 1950 707,205 Great Britain Aug. 19, 1902 

